Description

NIALL HAMMOND
Tel: +44(0)739 723 2982
Email: niall.hammond16@imperial.ac.uk / niallhammond@gmail.com

 

Profile
I am a Conservation Science student at Imperial College London. My interests are in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation initiatives in different contexts, to understand why some initiatives are successful, while others are not. I am also interested in understanding how attitudes and perceptions of wildlife impact on the perceived costs and benefits of living with ‘conflict species’. It is my belief that for conservation to be successful we must have genuine collaboration with local stakeholders when developing conservation initiatives.

 

Education
MSc in Conservation Science – Imperial College London (09/2016 – Present)

Modules: Research project and thesis, Rufford Small Grant proposal, social research methods, ecological research methods, statistics for conservation scientists using R and SPSS, QGIS workshop, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation initiatives, systematic conservation planning, protected area management, economics in conservation, urban conservation, natural resource exploitation, invasive species management.

 

Research project and thesis: Currently investigating the drivers of conflict between stakeholders involved with a proposed trial Eurasian Lynx reintroduction in Northumberland, England. This study focuses on using questionnaires and interviews to determine local perceptions and attitudes towards the proposed trial and the organisations involved. From this, the main drivers of the conflict will be understood so as to improve consultation for similar reintroductions in the future.

 

BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science and Health (2.1) – Dublin City University (2007 – 2012)

Final year subjects: Research project, literature survey, environmental analysis, environmental toxicology, environmental ethics, environmental legislation, environmental health and safety, physics of renewable energy.

Final year Research Project:  Design of a continuous flow, single chamber microbial fuel cell system for primary waste water treatment.

Environmental Analysis:  Completed an environmental assessment of various sites across Wales using an array of methods, such as, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography, Infrared Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.

 

Volunteering
10/2015 – 12/2015:  Conservation Volunteer at Mokolodi Nature Reserve (Gaborone, Botswana)

·       Maintained and observed health, feeding and care of the reserve’s rescued spotted hyaena.

·       Tracked, identified and monitored the park’s white rhino population to assess their health, habitat utilization and as an anti-poaching measure.

·       Completed a vegetation assessment of the park to determine the park’s carry capacity.

·       Participated in the park’s annual game count.

·       Created an application which can be used to log data related to animal species, number, GPS location and individual’s health. This application could be used to replace the manual recording and input of data for future game counts and rhino monitoring.

·       Prepared a proposal of different grass regeneration techniques which could be trialled in the park to repair the deteriorated veld.

·       Aided in lessons and games with groups of school children who visited the park’s education centre.

 

Employment history
02/2016 – 06/2016:  English Academy Teacher at London School, English Academy (Barcelona, Spain)

·       Independently managed classes of up to 14 students.

·       Prepared adults and children for Trinity and Cambridge exams.

·       Tailored classes for each student’s individual needs using a variety of materials from standard textbooks to video classes.

·       Provided additional email support to students.

 

Additional Skills
Proficient with Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access

Experience using QGIS, R and SPSS

Fieldwork First Aid Certified

Full Clean Drivers License

 

Activities and interests
Travel and Culture:  Enjoy living in different countries where I get the opportunity to learn about diverse cultures and languages. I have had the opportunity to visit and live in Africa and Europe and look forward to discovering other parts of the world.

Football: Have played football throughout my life for amateur teams in Ireland, England and Spain.

Wildlife Photography: I am a keen wildlife photographer and am always looking to improve my photography skills.